Song inspirations: 'Oats in the Water,' 'Bridge Over Troubled Water,' 'Wicked Games'

Today's featured authors: Claudia Connor, author of Worth the Risk; Sawyer Bennett, author of Garrett; and Lea Griffith, author of More. They're sharing some inspirations for their latest releases.

Claudia Connor, author of Worth the Risk

Three things that inspired my new release:

• My favorite restaurant. Not often, but sometimes, I do picture a particular place when writing a scene, usually because I had a vision of the scene when I was actually there. In this case, it's the restaurant Stephen and Hannah go to on their first date. My apologies to the people I was having dinner with. My mind is more often attuned to those who aren't really there in the flesh. :)

• Songs. A single word in a song, sometimes just the emotion in their voice, can set me off on a writing marathon. Many times it's like the background music of a movie scene. No dialogue, just watching them, feeling whatever they're feeling. In Worth the Risk, Oats in the Water by Ben Howard played in the background of a particular rough time for Stephen.

• Real events. It's extremely rare for any character in my mind to be based on a real live person, in fact this is the first time ever. But the tragedy of Stephen's fiancée is the true story of a friend's sister. After hearing the pain of her family's past, I couldn't stop thinking of the man left behind. How did you move on from something like that? How did he recover? Did he recover? I don't personally know the man who was left to put himself back together, but I do know after almost 20 years he did find love again. <3

About Worth the Risk:

New York Times bestselling author Claudia Connor follows up her heartfelt debut, Worth the Fall, with a novel about Matt's brother, Stephen—and when a McKinney brother falls in love, powerful emotion and overwhelming desire are never far behind.

Two hearts locked away ... Hannah Walker spends her days coaching children through injury and trauma, one therapeutic horseback ride at a time. She knows all too well how violence can change a child and leave scars that never heal. It's easy for her to relate to the kids; what isn't easy is the thought of facing her own harrowing past.

Millionaire playboy Stephen McKinney could use a little coaching himself. Five years ago he encountered his most horrible nightmare—and the nightmare won. No matter what he achieves, nothing can make up for that awful night ... or so he believes.

Both desperate for a second chance ... Stephen is used to getting what he wants. And he wants Hannah. So when she turns him down, he's intrigued. What he doesn't know is that her secrets will lead him to a place he never wanted to go again ... to a side of himself he's tried to forget ... a side that would scare Hannah away from ever loving him. Now his only chance to win her trust is to bare his soul, risking everything he tried so hard to protect.

Find out more at claudiaconnor.com.

Sawyer Bennett, author of Garrett

Three things that inspired this release:

• Both of my parents have battled cancer and survived, and I wanted to write a book that showed that not all cancer is life-limiting; that there can be very happy stories despite the tragic diagnosis. For specific inspiration, I have two very good friends help me with this manuscript, one who survived the very cancer I write about, and one who is an oncologist who has made it his life career to battle the disease.

• There is always a piece of music that will inspire me in one of my books. For Garrett, it was Bridge Over Troubled Water by Simon & Garfunkel. If you know the lyrics and you've read the book … you'll understand.

• I was watching Big Brother on TV this summer while writing Garrett and I ended up creating a secondary character, Stevie, based on certain elements of one of the contestants who I adored, Frankie Grande. I just loved how big his personality was and Stevie, who is best friends to the heroine, Olivia, needed to be big and bold.

About Garrett:

New York Times bestselling author Sawyer Bennett hits the ice with the story of a playboy athlete whose winning ways lead him to a beautiful woman with a lot to lose.

Carolina Cold Fury star Garrett Samuelson never wants to miss out on a single minute of fun. Whether he's playing hockey, hanging out with friends, or walking the red carpet with a new date on his arm, he lives every day to the fullest. When he meets Olivia Case, he sees someone who's exactly his type—confident, sexy, smart . . . his next fling. But the more he pursues her, the more Garrett shares a side of himself that other women don't normally get to see.

Olivia has been keeping a secret. While Garrett lives for the next thrill, Olivia's not sure she'll live to see the next day. She's undergoing treatment for some serious medical issues, and she doesn't have time for a relationship with no guarantees—especially one with a hot-as-sin womanizer who won't take no for an answer. But as she gets to know the real Garrett, Olivia can't help falling for him . . . hard. To reveal the truth would mean risking everything—but you can't score without taking the tough shots.

Find out more at www.sawyerbennett.com.

Lea Griffith, author of More

I can sum up the inspirations for book two of my All or Nothing series with three M's. You ready?

• Music. Specifically The Weeknd's Wicked Games and Bruno Mars' Gorilla. If you listen to those and don't think or feel smexxy we need to sit down and chat.

• Man-Crush Monday (or everyday really). Tom Hardy. Yes. The Tomster, Bane, Mad Max, Mr. I-Wanna-Sex-You-Up Hardy. This second "M" stands for the MAN, Tom Hardy.

• My fantasies. I don't know if there are many authors who would admit this, but here I go … sometimes, my fantasies find life in the pages of my books. Yes. There's no shame in my game, BUT that's all I'll say about that. ;-)

So there you have it, the three M's that kept me going when I was writing More. I know what Tobias was inspired by in More and her name is Ruthie.

About More:

Three years ago, Ruthie Copeland ran away from an erotic connection that shook her to the core. Now she realizes that Tobias Edwards is the only man who can give her what she craves. Determined to reignite the dangerous flame between them, Ruthie seeks him out at The Underground—and discovers a changed man. Though Ruthie, blind since childhood, cannot see the scars on Toby's face that forced him to seal off his heart, her gentle submission eases the pain of her body's only Master.

Toby stopped feeling after Ruthie left, stopped expecting to find release in meaningless dominance play. Now that Ruthie has taken their dance to the limits of ecstasy, Toby's lost in a haze of sensation. Yet the enemies that left him disfigured may reappear at any moment. Ruthie's love gives him the strength to face those who seek to break him, but Toby fears he must leave her to save her life.

More is an erotic romance intended for mature audiences.

Find out more at www.leagriffith.com.